Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Harriette Tsosie's Code Talking Series

CODE TALKING: Word & Symbol as Image.
From “Morse” to “QR,” Albuquerque artist Harriette Tsosie explores all kinds of codes in her upcoming solo show “Code Talking: Word and Symbol as Image.” The exhibition opens at Old Town’s Leich Lathrop Gallery Friday, October 4th, with receptions during the First Friday Artscrawl (5:00 - 7:00 PM) and an artist’s reception Sunday, October 6th from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. The gallery is located in Plazuela Sombra, 323 Romero Street, Suite #1, Albuquerque.
“This body of work explores the language aspect of identity,” says Tsosie. “From marks scratched on caves to contemporary texting, there has always been a mysterious element to communication.”
“Technology has made private communication more accessible and faster. That comes at a price. There's a reason divorce attorneys mine Facebook." She points out that social media can be a weapon as well as a “friend.” “The so-called 'social media' offer ample opportunity for government spying, leaking secrets and making serious mistakes. While many use the internet for shopping, other cultures form revolutions with it."
Some contemporary codes are visually quite beautiful, says Tsosie, who especially likes the QR (quick response) codes. “A Los Angeles artist has likened them to Navajo rug weavings,” she says. “However, my first love remains the calligraphic marking of earlier cultures, which seem like codes to me since I cannot decipher them.” She explores both the QR and bar codes in several works as well as calligraphy in her “Lost in Translation” pieces.
“Code Talking” continues through October 30th. Leich Lathrop Gallery hours are: Monday & Wednesday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Sunday: Noon - 5:00 PM. The gallery is closed on Tuesdays.